State Fair Opens, Health and Civic Engagement Fair Tomorrow

The New York State Fair opens today, with plenty of new attractions, concerts, and events. I attended a preview of the Fair on Wednesday, where I met this year’s Fair mascots, Candy and Pop. They each represent an important New York agricultural product. They’ll be appearing around the Fairgrounds and will pose for pictures. Some of the attractions include:

• Adventure Zone: Located behind the Horticulture Building, this area is home to the Discover the Dinosaurs exhibit, the Eudora Farms Petting Zoo, the Historic Train Exhibit, and various family thrill rides.
• Monarch Butterfly Garden: Fairgoers will be able to learn about butterflies by walking through a netted exhibit and purchase nectar for a chance for the butterflies to land on them.
• Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes: An extraordinary collection of shipwrecks lies at the bottom of the Great Lakes. This exhibit will tell the stories of these vessels and the people who worked and lived on them.
• Taste NY Tent: Companies that make delicious products right here in New York State will be in the tent, offering free samples and products for sale. There will be all kinds of food and beverage items – salsas and spreads, snacks and desserts, wines, and more.

For a full list of attractions, both new and old favorites, visit the Fair website.

Health and Civic Engagement Fair

If you can, please stop by my Health and Civic Engagement Fair tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 22, at the Southwest Community Center, 401 South Ave. in Syracuse. This free event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and I expect about 35 representatives from local, state, and federal government agencies and area nonprofits to be on hand to help citizens learn about new services and products available to them. The fair also features flu shots from Kinney Drugs and Rite Aid Drugs, health screenings from Crouse Hospital, a voting booth, a constituent services table, and refreshments from Nojaim Bros. Supermarket. I hope to see you there.

Benefit Coming Up for Say Yes to Education

A Back to School Gala to benefit the Say Yes to Education Endowment Fund will be held Friday, September 5, 2014, at the Landmark Theatre, 362 S. Salina St., Syracuse, from 7-10 p.m. Free parking will be available in the Trolley Lot. RSVP to Robyn Smith at (315) 883-5543 or rsmith@cnycf.org or RSVP at sayyesbenefitevent.eventbrite.com. For more information about Say Yes Syracuse, visit www.sayyessyracuse.org.